Circuit for a power device and graphical user interface

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for a system power device utilized in an interconnected power system. The interconnected power system may include multiple system power devices connected to various inter connections of groups of direct currents (DC) from power sources which also may be connected in various series, parallel, series parallel and parallel series combinations for example. The apparatus may include a processor connected to a memory and a communication interface operatively attached to the processor. The communication interface may be adapted to connect to a mobile computing system of a user in close proximity to the system power devices. A graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile computing system may allow various operational and re-configuration options for the interconnected power system which may include installation, maintenance and monitoring schedules in the interconnected power system when the user of the GUI is in close proximity to the system power devices.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser.No. 62/513,054, filed May 31, 2017, entitled “Circuit For A Power DeviceAnd Graphical User Interface.” The content of the foregoing applicationis incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Installation and maintenance of power systems often require personnel tounderstand and apply safety principals when working on a power system.In general, personnel may be required to have a safety awareness whichmay include the principles of hazardous area classifications,explosion-protection techniques, equipment installation requirements,safe testing procedures, procedures for breakdowns and maintenance,proper and safe isolation and how to perform visual and detailedinspections. Personnel may require specific training in the use ofmulti-function testing meters, safe isolation procedures and equipment,to properly fill out inspection and testing documentation which mayinclude details of continuity of protective conductors, insulationresistance, protection by safety extra low voltage (SUN), polarity,earth electrode resistance, earth fault loop impedance, residual currentdevice (RCD) testing, earth bonding and prospective fault currents. Morespecifically, a power system of interconnected photovoltaic panels maypresent dangers from electrocution and risk to other personnel such asfire fighters, since hazardous voltages may remain even after collectiveactions (disconnections, for example) are made.

SUMMARY

The following summary may be a short summary of some of the inventiveconcepts for illustrative purposes only, and may be not intended tolimit or constrain the inventions and examples in the detaileddescription. One skilled in the art will recognize other novelcombinations and features from the detailed description.

Illustrative aspects of the disclosure disclosed herein may be withrespect to power sources in a power system and may consider theinterconnecting of various groups of power sources. Each group of powersources may contain different types of power derived from both renewableenergy sources such as provided from sunlight, wind or wave power andnon-renewable energy sources such as fuel used to drive turbines orgenerators for example. Some illustrative aspects of the disclosure mayconsider the connecting of DC sources to a load via multiple powerdevices.

Illustrative aspects of the disclosure disclosed herein may include apower system utilized to supply power to a load and/or a storage device.The power system may include various inter connections of groups ofdirect currents (DC) or alternating currents (AC) from power sourceswhich also may be connected in various series, parallel, series paralleland parallel series combinations for example.

More specifically, some illustrative aspects of the disclosure mayfeature a retrofit circuit for a system power device utilized in aninterconnected power system. The interconnected power system may includemultiple system power devices connected to various inter connections ofgroups of direct currents (DC) from power sources which also may beconnected in various series, parallel, series parallel and parallelseries combinations for example. The retrofit circuit may include aprocessor connected to a memory and a communication interfaceoperatively attached to the processor. The communication interface maybe adapted to connect to a mobile computing system of a user in closeproximity to the system power devices. A graphical user interface (GUI)of the mobile computing system may provide assistance during variousinstallation, maintenance and monitoring schedules in the interconnectedpower system to be performed when the user of the GUI is in closeproximity to the system power devices. The schedules may help to ensurethat an installer or a maintenance person has followed all installationsteps, that certified people only are on site, to provide in real timeor near real time recording and monitoring of steps being taken (e.g.for quality, regulatory, and failure-analysis purposes). The GUI mayenable the activation of bypass units connected to the inputs andoutputs of the system power devices. The activation may allow faultfinding to occur for example in a series connection of system powerdevice outputs. The activation may help in identifying a faulty systempower device and/or faulty power source for example. The activation maytherefore eliminate or mitigate the unnecessary removal of housingcovers of the housings of the system power devices. Avoiding of theunnecessary removal of housing covers of the housings of the systempower devices may avoid the time wasted in removing and reclosing ahousing cover, avoid the exposure of open live contacts to people in thevicinity of the system power devices and/or power sources and may alsoavoid damage to the seals and/or preserve the integrity of seals byunnecessary removing and reclosing of housing covers. The GUI mayadditionally allow for the recording and uploading of test results madeas part of a safety report and/or as part of an electrical inspectionand test of a power system for example.

The GUI may enable access to sensors attached to the power sourcesand/or system power devices to allow monitoring of parameters of in theinterconnected power system to be measured and monitored. The parametersmay be voltages, currents, power, temperature or the state of charge ofa charge storage device attached to the power sources and/or systempower devices. The parameters may provide further detail of powersupplied to various loads connect to the interconnected power system.The system may further enable the upload of charge profiles for thestorage devices or allow a new storage device with a new charge profileto be installed to replace an existing charge storage device forexample. Operating parameters of the system power devices may beconfigured via the GUI as well as how the power from the power sourcesmay be supplied to loads and/or charge storage devices or the criteriafor when power from a charge storage device may be supplied to whatloads. The system may further enable the upload of load profiles whichare responsive to the criteria required for both supplying power toloads and/or charge storage devices and supplying power from the chargestorage devices to the loads. The criteria may include a load demandhistory based on the time of day, month and/or year for example.

As noted above, this Summary may be merely a summary of some of thefeatures described herein. It may be not exhaustive, and it may be notto be a limitation on the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of a power system, according toillustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 1B illustrates further details of wiring configurations and theirconnections to system power devices, according to illustrative aspectsof the disclosure.

FIG. 1C illustrates circuitry which may be found in a power device suchas a power device, according to illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 1D shows a buck+boost circuit implementation for a power circuit,according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 1E shows a connecting between a mobile computer system and localcommunication device, according to illustrative aspects of thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified block diagram of local communicationdevice, according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified block diagram of mobile computer system,according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows an isometric drawing of a housing which houses a systempower device, according to one or more illustrative aspects of thedisclosure.

FIG. 5 shows various screen portions of graphical user interfaces (GUIs)provided on a display of a mobile computing system, according to one ormore illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 6A shows a flowchart of a method and refers again to FIG. 4,according to illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 6B shows a flowchart of a method, according to illustrative aspectsof the disclosure.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, claims, and drawings. The present disclosure may beillustrated by way of example, and not limited by, the accompanyingfigures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various illustrative aspects of thedisclosure, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part hereof, and in which may be shown, by way of illustration,various embodiments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced.It may be to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized andstructural and functional modifications may be made, without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

By way of introduction, features of illustrative aspects of thedisclosure may be directed to retrofit circuits to various components ofa power system or to circuits already included in the various componentsof the power system. The retrofit circuits and circuits may provideaccess to a server via a connection between a mobile computing systemand a network. The connection may allow for example the update offirmware of the various components of a power system when a user is inproximity to the various components of the power system. The update offirmware of the various components of a power system may be providedfrom a storage of the mobile computing system when connection to theserver and/or network is not available. The connection may additionallyprovide for example, the upload of data measured and monitored by theuser of operating parameters of the power system during installationand/or maintenance of the power system. The connection may additionallyprovide for example, allowance for storage of data monitored andmeasured in the mobile computing system when a connection to a serverand/or network is not available. The stored data may then besubsequently uploaded to a server and/or network when a connection tothe server and/or network is next available. In a similar way, thelatest firmware update of the various components of the power system maybe made when a connection to the server and/or network is available.

For example, a photovoltaic inverter might not support an internetconnection or may be installed in a location (e.g., a basement) where aninternet connection is not available. An installer may connect to aserver and/or network and download a firmware update to a mobilecomputing system prior to going onsite and/or servicing the inverter.The installer may go onsite, communicatively connect the mobilecomputing system to the inverter (e.g. ng a local wired or wirelessconnection), transfer the firmware update to the inverter, receive datafrom the inverter, and once leaving the site—reconnect to the serverand/or network and transmit the data received from the inverter forfurther data storage and/or analysis.

The term “multiple” as used here in the detailed description indicatesthe property of having or involving several parts, elements, or members.The claim term “a plurality of” as used herein in the claims sectionfinds support in the description with use of the term “multiple” and/orother plural forms. Other plural forms may include for example regularnouns that form their plurals by adding either the letter ‘s’ or ‘es’ sothat the plural of converter is converters or the plural of switch isswitches for example.

Reference is made to FIG. 1A which shows a power system 10, according toillustrative aspects of the disclosure. Power system 10 includesmultiple wiring configurations 111. Wiring configurations 111 are shownin various multiple parallel connections 150 a/150 d of wiringconfigurations 111 to each other, a parallel series connections 150 b ofwiring configurations 111 and a series connection 150 c of wiringconfigurations 111. Various other inter connections of wiringconfigurations 111 may be formed such as a series parallel connecting ofwiring configurations 111 and/or various interconnections betweenconnections 150 a, 150 b, 150 c and 150 d for example. Each wiringconfiguration 111 may further include various interconnections of powersources and/or power devices (not shown in FIG. 1A) which are describedin further detail in descriptions which follow. The outputs of eachrespective connections 150 a, 150 b, 150 c and 150 d may connect to theinput of a system power device 107. The output of each system powerdevice 107 may connect to a load 109. System power device 107 may be adirect current (DC) to alternating current (AC) inverter, a DC to DCconverter or an AC to DC converter for example. Load 109 may be a DCload such as a battery, a utility grid which may be AC or DC, or anelectrical motor and/or generator for example. Loads 109 may be separateand/or common to each other (multiple loads 109 indicated in FIG. 1A mayrepresent a single utility grid).

In connection 150 d a storage device 112 (e.g. a battery, asupercapacitor, a flywheel, etc.) connects to system power device 107.As such, storage device 112 may be utilized to store charge from powerproduced by wiring configurations 111 via system power device 107 and/orpower from load 109 if load 109 is another source of power from otherconnections 150 a, 150 b, and 150 c and/or another source of power suchas an AC or DC utility grid for example. Storage device 112 may beutilized to supply power to load 109 when power from connections 150 a,150 b, 150 c and 150 d is not available and/or is at level which may notbe sufficient to supply load 109. Power not being available fromconnections 150 a, 150 b, 105 c and 150 d may be as a result of wiringconfigurations 111 including photovoltaic panels which may be shaded ornot producing power at night time. Alternatively, configurations 111 mayinclude wind turbines which may cause lower power produced fromconnections 150 a, 150 b, 105 c and 150 d if there is no wind. Further,configurations 111 may include fuel driven generators, where an absenceof fuel causes minimized power produced from connections 150 a, 150 b,105 c and 150 d. As such, with the above considerations a feature ofsystem power device 107 connected to storage device 112 may be toconvert power from a grid (when load 109 is a utility grid) to chargestorage device 112 and/or convert power from storage device 112 in orderto supply power to load 109. It should be understood that even thoughthe storage device 112 is connected to the parallel connection 150 d,the storage device 112 may be connected to any of other connections 150a, 150 b, or 150 c.

System power device 107 and/or storage devices 112 may include anintegrated local communication device 110 or may be retrofitted withlocal communication device 110. Local communication device 110 may alsobe realized by a power line communication (PLC) device which may bemagnetically coupled to power lines, and the magnetic coupling might notrequire direct electrical connection to the power lines whichinter-connect wiring configurations 111 to system power devices 107 andloads 109. The PLC devices may connect to the power cables via clampingmechanism and may enable communications between various parts of powersystem 10 in order to provide monitoring and control of the variousdevices within power system 10. Further details of local communicationdevice 110 are shown in the descriptions below with regards to FIGS. 1E,2 and 3.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1B, which illustrates further details ofwiring configurations 111 and their connections to system power device107, according to illustrative aspects of the disclosure. Multiplewiring configurations 111 are shown connected in parallel at terminals Aand B which connect to the input of system power device 107. The outputof system power device 107 may connect to load 109. Each wiringconfiguration 111 may include one or more power sources 101 which may beconnected to a respective power device 103 and/or power device 103 a atterminals W, X. The outputs of power devices 103/103 a at terminals Y, Zmay be connected together to form a serial string which connects betweenterminals A and B. Local communication devices 110 are shown connectedto system power device 107 and may also be connected to power device 103a. Local communication device 110 may be an integrated part of systempower devices 107/power devices 103 and/or retrofitted to system powerdevices 107/power devices 103. Features of local communication device110 are described in greater detail below in the descriptions whichfollow.

In some embodiments, one or more wiring configurations 111 might notinclude power devices 103 a or 103. For example, a wiring configuration111 may include multiple power sources 101 directly connected in seriesor in parallel. For example, a wiring configuration 111 may have ten,twenty or thirty serially-connected photovoltaic panels. In someembodiments, a wiring configuration 111 may include a first group of oneor more directly connected power sources 101, with a second group of oneor more power sources 101 connected via power devices 103 a or 103connected to the first group. This arrangement may be useful in powerinstallations where some power sources 101 may be susceptible to factorswhich reduce power generation (e.g. PV generators which are occasionallyshaded, wind turbines which occasionally suffer from a reduction inwind), with other power sources 101 less susceptible to power-reducingfactors.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1C, which illustrates circuitry which maybe found in a power device such as power device 103/103 a, according toillustrative aspects of the disclosure. Power device 103/103 a may besimilar to or the same as power device 103/103 a shown in FIG. 1A whichmay provide respective input and output terminals W, X and Y, W. Inputand output terminals W, X and Y, W may provide connection to power lines120 (not shown). In some embodiments, power device 103/103 a may includepower circuit 135. Power circuit 135 may include a direct current-directcurrent (DC/DC) converter such as a Buck, Boost, Buck/Boost, Buck+Boost,Cuk, Flyback and/or forward converter, or a charge pump. In someembodiments, power circuit 135 may include a direct current—alternatingcurrent (DC/AC) converter (also known as an inverter), such as amicro-inverter. Power circuit 135 may have two input terminals and twooutput terminals, which may be the same as the input terminals andoutput terminals of power device 103/103 a. In some embodiments, Powerdevice 103/103 a may include Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) circuit138, configured to extract increased power from a power source.

In some embodiments, power circuit 135 may include MPPT functionality.In some embodiments, MPPT circuit 138 may implement impedance matchingalgorithms to extract increased power from a power source the powerdevice may be connected to power device 103/103 a may further includecontroller 105 such as a microprocessor, Digital Signal Processor (DSP),Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and/or a FieldProgrammable Gate Array (FPGA).

Still referring to FIG. 1C, controller 105 may control and/orcommunicate with other elements of power device 103/103 a over commonbus 190. In some embodiments, power device 103/103 a may includecircuitry and/or sensors/sensor interfaces 125 configured to measureparameters directly or receive measured parameters from connectedsensors and/or sensor interfaces 125 configured to measure parameters onor near the power source, such as the voltage and/or current output bythe power source and/or the power output by the power source. In someembodiments, the power source may be a photovoltaic (PV) generatorcomprising PV cells, and a sensor or sensor interface may directlymeasure or receive measurements of the irradiance received by the PVcells, and/or the temperature on or near the PV generator.

Still referring to FIG. 1C, in some embodiments, power device 103/103 amay include communication interface 129, configured to transmit and/orreceive data and/or commands from other devices. Communication interface129 may communicate using Power Line Communication (PLC) technology,acoustic communications technology, or additional technologies such asZIGBEE™, Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH™, cellular communication or other wirelessmethods. Power Line Communication (PLC) may be performed over powerlines 120 between power devices 103/103 a and system power device (e.g.inverter) 107 which may include as similar communication interface ascommunication interface 129.

In some embodiments, power device 103/103 a may include memory 123, forlogging measurements taken by sensor(s)/sensor interfaces 125 to storecode, operational protocols or other operating information. Memory 123may be flash, Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory(EEPROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), Solid State Devices (SSD) or othertypes of appropriate memory devices.

Still referring to FIG. 1C, in some embodiments, power device 103/103 amay include safety devices 160 (e.g. fuses, circuit breakers andResidual Current Detectors). Safety devices 160 may be passive oractive. For example, safety devices 160 may include one or more passivefuses disposed within power device 103/103 a where the element of thefuse may be designed to melt and disintegrate when excess current abovethe rating of the fuse flows through it, to thereby disconnect part ofpower device 103/103 a so as to avoid damage. In some embodiments,safety devices 160 may include active disconnect switches, configured toreceive commands from a controller (e.g. controller 105, or an externalcontroller) to short-circuit and/or disconnect portions of power device103/103 a, or configured to short-circuit and/or disconnect portions ofpower device 103/103 a in response to a measurement measured by a sensor(e.g. a measurement measured or obtained by sensors/sensor interfaces125). In some embodiments, power device 103/103 a may include auxiliarypower circuit 162, configured to receive power from a power sourceconnected to power device 103/103 a, and output power suitable foroperating other circuitry components (e.g. controller 105, communicationinterface 129, etc.). Communication, electrical connecting and/ordata-sharing between the various components of power device 103/103 amay be carried out over common bus 190. In some embodiments, auxiliarypower circuit 162 may be connected to an output of a power device103/103 a and designed to receive power from power sources connected toother power devices.

Power device 103/103 a may include or be operatively attached to amaximum power point tracking (MPPT) circuit. The MPPT circuit may alsobe operatively connected to controller 105 or another controller 105included in power device 103/103 a which may be designated as a primarycontroller. A primary controller in power device 103/103 a maycommunicatively control one or more other power devices 103/103 a whichmay include controllers known as secondary controllers. Once aprimary/secondary relationship may be established, a direction ofcontrol may be from the primary controller to the secondary controllers.The MPPT circuit under control of a primary and/or central controller105 may be utilized to increase power extraction from power sources 101and/or to control voltage and/or current supplied to system power device(e.g. an inverter or a load) 107.

Referring still to FIG. 1C, in some embodiments, power device 103/103 amay include bypass unit Q9 coupled between the inputs of power circuit135 and/or between the outputs of power circuit 135. Bypass unit Q9and/or power circuit 135 may be a junction box to terminate power lines120 or to provide a safety feature such as fuses or residual currentdevices. Bypass unit Q9 may also be an isolation switch for example.Bypass unit Q9 may be a passive device, for example, a diode. Bypassunits Q9 may be controlled by controller 105. If an unsafe condition isdetected, controller 105 may set bypass unit Q9 to ON, short-circuitingthe input and/or output of power circuit 135. In a case in which thepair of power sources 101 are photovoltaic (PV) generators, each PVgenerator provides an open-circuit voltage at its output terminals. Whenbypass unit Q9 is ON, a PV generators may be short-circuited, to providea voltage of about zero to power circuit 135. In both scenarios, a safevoltage may be maintained, and the two scenarios may be staggered toalternate between open-circuiting and short-circuiting PV generators.This mode of operation may allow continuous power supply to systemcontrol devices, as well as provide backup mechanisms for maintaining asafe voltage (i.e., operation of bypass unit Q9 may allow continued safeoperating conditions).

In some embodiments, a power device 103/103 a may comprise a partialgroup of the elements illustrated in FIG. 1C. For example, a powerdevice 103/103 a might not include power circuit 135 (i.e. power circuit135 may be replaced by a short circuit, and a single bypass unit Q9 maybe featured. In a scenario where power circuit 135 is not present, powerdevice 103/103 a may be still used to provide safety, monitoring and/orbypass features.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1D, which shows a buck+boost circuitimplementation for power circuit 135, according to one or moreillustrative aspects of the disclosure. The buck+boost circuitimplementation for power circuit 135 utilizes metal oxide semi-conductorfield effect transistors (MOSFETs) for switches S1, S2, S3 and S4. Thesources of switches S1, S2, S3 and S4 are referred to as firstterminals, the drains of S1, S2, S3 and S4 are referred to secondterminals and the gates of S1, S2, S3 and S4 are referred to as thirdterminals. Capacitor C1 may be connected in parallel across therespective positive (+) and negative (−) input terminals C and D of thebuck+boost circuit where the voltage may be indicated as VIN. CapacitorC2 may be connected in parallel across the respective positive (+) andnegative (−) output terminals A and B of the buck+boost circuit wherethe voltage may be indicated as VOUT. First terminals of witches S3 andS2 may connect to the common negative (−) output and input terminals ofthe buck+boost circuit. A second terminal of switch S1 may connect tothe positive (+) input terminal and a first terminal of switch S1 mayconnect to a second terminal of switch S3. A second terminal of switchS4 may connect to the positive (+) output terminal and a first terminalof switch S4 may connect to the second terminals of switch S2. InductorL1 may connect respectively between the second terminals of switches S3and S4. Third terminals of switches S1, S2, S3 and S4 may be operativelyconnected to controller 105.

Switches S1, S2, S3 and S4 may be implemented using semi-conductordevices, for example, metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors(MOSFETs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), bipolar junctiontransistors (BJTs), Darlington transistor, diode, silicon controlledrectifier (SCR), Diac, Triac or other semi-conductor switches known inthe art. Using by way of example, switches S1, S2, S3 and S4 may beimplemented by use of bipolar junction transistors where the collectors,emitters and bases may refer to first terminals, second terminals andthird terminals described and defined above. Switches S1, S2, S3 and S4may be implemented using mechanical switch contacts such as handoperated switches or electro-mechanically operated switches such asrelays for example. Similarly, implementation for power device 103/103 amay include, for example, a buck circuit, a boost circuit, a buck/boostcircuit, a Flyback circuit, a Forward circuit, a charge pump, a Cukconverter or any other circuit which may be utilized to convert power onthe input of power device 103/103 a to the output of power device103/103 a.

Reference is made to FIG. 1E which shows a connecting between mobilecomputer system 12 and local communication device 110, according toillustrative aspects of the disclosure. Mobile computing system 12 isshown as a smart phone but may also be a different device, for example,a laptop computer or tablet device. The connecting between mobilecomputing system 12 and local communication device 110 may be by use ofa cable 16 and/or wireless connection 14. Cable 16 may be a UniversalSerial Bus (USB™) cable or any other data cable such as an optical fibercable, coaxial cable or Ethernet cables such as Cat5 or Cat5e forexample. Wireless connection 14 may be via wireless technologies such asNear-field communication (NFC), ZIGBEE™, Wi-Fi, Wireless USB™ andBLUETOOTH™ for example. Mobile computing system 12 is shown with adisplay 306 which may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to auser.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which illustrates a simplified blockdiagram of local communication device 110, according to one or moreillustrative aspects of the disclosure. Processor 200 may connectbidirectionally to a memory storage 202 in order allow reading andwriting of data to and from memory storage 202. Local communicationdevice 110 may also include a display 206 operatively attached toprocessor 200. Communication interface 204 may connect bidirectionallyto processor 200 to allow a connection between a mobile computer system12 and a local communication device 110. The connection may allow localcommunication device 110 to be connected to a server and a cellularnetwork via mobile computer system 12. The connection may typicallyallow a user to run an application on mobile computing system 12 whichallows the user and/or a remote user to communicate, control andconfigure system power devices 107, power devices 103/103 a and/orstorage device(s) 112 (which include a local communication device 110)when the user is in the near vicinity of a local communication device110 using cable 16 and/or wireless connection 14 described above. Localcommunication device 110 may also provide in system power devices 107and/or power devices 130/103 a to include extra sensors, MPPT circuits,an additional control function, safety devices and aux power in systempower devices 107 and/or power devices 130/103 a which do not have theseextra features as a part of a retrofit of power system 10 for example.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which illustrates a simplified blockdiagram of mobile computer system 12 according to one or moreillustrative aspects of the disclosure. Mobile computer system 12 may befor example an iPhone™ of Apple Inc., a laptop computer or a smart-phoneconfigured to run an Android™ open operating system. Mobile computersystem 12 may be connectible over a network 324 to a server 326. Mobilecomputer system 12 may be also connectible through a cellular basestation transceiver 320 to the remainder of cellular network 322. Mobilecomputer system 12 may include a processor 300 connected to local datastorage 302. A data communications module 308 may connect processor 300to network 324. A cellular communications module 304 may connectprocessor 300 to cellular network 322, and cellular network 322 may befurther connected to the internet. Mobile computer system 12 may includeconnected to processor 300, peripheral accessory devices such as adisplay 306, global positioning system (GPS) 310, camera 312, amicrophone 314, a speaker 318, a vibrator 316, accelerometer/gravitysensor/gyroscopic sensor unit 328, Blue-Tooth™, infra-red sensor (notshown). Display 306 may provide a graphical user interface (discussedlater) to a user for an application, which runs on mobile computingsystem 12. A user of mobile computer system 12 may be an installer ofpower systems such as power system 10 for example. The user may be amaintenance engineer, manager or person responsible for the upkeep of apower system such as power system 10. The application allows the uservia a local communication device (e.g. local communication device 110)to communicate, control and configure system power devices 107, powerdevices 103/103 a and/or storage device(s) 112.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 which shows an isometric drawing of ahousing 46 which houses system power device 107, according to one ormore illustrative aspects of the disclosure. Housing 46 may include dataconnector 44 which may allow the connection of cable 16 between localcommunication device 110 and mobile computing system 12. Cable glands 40a and 40 b may be used for the insertion and securing of power lines 120of FIG. 1B (not shown in FIG. 4) for which the conductors of power lines120 may then be terminated inside housing 46. System power device 107 isshown as a system power device designed for receiving a retrofitcommunication system. The retrofitting may include the attachment andlocation of local communication device 110 (not shown in FIG. 4) insidehousing 46 and housing 46 modified to allow display 206 to be mounted onthe front panel of housing 46. According to some illustrative aspects,display 206 may extend across a substantial portion of housing 46 (e.g.,display 206 may extend across the entire front panel or most of thefront panel of housing 46) The front panel is shown attached to the rearportion of housing 46 with fasteners 42. The retrofitting may furtherinclude the attachment of a data connector 44 which connects to localcommunication device 110. Alternatively, local communication device 110may be attached in close proximity or vicinity to system power device107 or power device 103.

Retrofitting system power device 107 and/or power device 103 a with alocal communication device 110 may be due to system power device 107 orpower device 103/103 a not presently providing to a user a certainmechanisms of communication. The retrofitting may be temporary orpermanent. For example, in some embodiments, a mobile phone may serve aslocal communication device, and may be communicatively paired to asystem power device 107 or a power device 103/103 a via, for example, alocal wireless protocol (e.g. Near Field Communication (NFC),BLUETOOTH™, ZIGBEE™ or WiFi) or by connecting the mobile phone to acommunication port mounted on the system power device or power device.The communication pairing may be used to provide an attached powerdevice with certain services for a period of time, and after theservices are provided the communication pairing may be severed byremoving the mobile phone.

The communication pairing may be utilized to provide, for example, thefeature of a firmware update or software update to system power device107 or power device 103/103 a. The firmware update or software updatemay be provided from a server (e.g. server 326 of FIG. 3) through amobile computing system (e.g. mobile computing system 12 of FIG. 3) forexample. The firmware update or software update may be provided fromstorage 302 of mobile computing system 12 to local communication device110 in situations where a connection between server 326 and localcommunication device 110 is unavailable.

The mechanisms of communication may provide a feature via mobilecomputing system 12, to assign a GPS co-ordinate to system power device107 from GPS 310 and/or a unique identification (ID) number to systempower devices 107 and/or power devices 103/103 a. The GPS co-ordinateand/or ID number may then be utilized to provide a record of the pairingbetween system power devices 107, between system power device 107 andpower devices 103/103 a and/or between power devices 103/103 a connectedin serial string of power device outputs for example. The record maythen be stored in memory storage 202 of FIG. 1C and/or memory storage indata network 324/server 326 of FIG. 3. The record up-loadable anddownloadable to server 326 and storable in storages 202/302 may alsoinclude information such as the user name of an operative, time and datewhen activated by the operative, verification of user name and passwordof the operative, the updated firmware version and previous firmwareversions and a log of any errors with system power devices 107 or powerdevices 103/103 a. The record as such may also provide a topographicallayout of power system 10 and also provide an updateable feature of thetopographical layout as a result of a maintenance or installationprocedure performed by the operative on power system 10.

The updateable feature may include for example, an addition to,subtraction of, repair of, or re-positioning of wiring configurations111, system power devices 107, power devices 103/103 a, storage device112 and loads 109. The updateable record as such may be utilized totrack the actions of the operative when the operative is meant to beperforming their function at various times and/or locations of powersystem 10. The actions of the operative may be tracked and monitored byvirtue of the operative and/or mobile computing system 12 being in thevicinity of local communication device 110. Mobile computing system 12being in the vicinity of local communication device 110 may activate aconnection to server 326 such that movements and/or actions of theoperative may be monitored and conveyed to another party over theinternet for example.

Mobile computing system 12 being in the vicinity of local communicationdevice 110 may also be used to warn/inform by a Short Message Service(SMS) from cellular network 322 to other personnel associated with powersystem 10 that the operative is performing installation and/ormaintenance presently on a particular system power device 107 and/orpower device 103/103 a. The SMS may therefore also include the locationof the operative and the amount of time the operative has spent in aparticular location of power system 10 for example. The mechanisms ofcommunication provided to a retrofit of system power device 107 and/orpower device 103/103 a with a local communication device 110 may alsoallow an alternative or additional control function to system powerdevice 107 and/or power device 103 a by use of processor 200 for exampleinstead of or in addition to an existing processor of system powerdevice 107 and/or power device 103/103 a.

The mechanisms of communication provided to a retrofit of system powerdevices 107 and/or power devices 103/103 a with a local communicationdevice 110 may also allow an alternative or additional control functionto system power device 107 and/or power device 103 a. The alternative oradditional control function by use of processor 300 of mobile computingsystem 12 instead of processor 200 may be applied to other system powerdevices 107 and/or power devices 103/103 a via power line communicationsfor example. The alternative or additional control function by use ofprocessor 300 of mobile computing system 12 instead of processor 200 maybe for a temporary purpose. The temporary purpose may allow for areconfiguration of other system power devices 107 and/or power devices103/103 a for a temporary appraisal and/or reporting of theeffectiveness of the reconfiguration. Once the temporary appraisaland/or reporting of the effectiveness of the reconfiguration isfinished, normal use of processor 200 or an existing processor of systempower devices 107 and/or power devices 103/103 a may continue.

Reference is now made again to FIGS. 1A, 1B by way of example and toFIG. 5 which shows various screen portions of graphical user interfaces(GUIs) 500 provided on display 306 of mobile computing system 12,according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure. Withreference to FIG. 1A, wiring configurations 111 may further includepower sources 101 which may be DC derived from wind turbines, batterybanks, or petrol generators for example. By way of non-limiting example,reference is made to power sources 101 of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B which aresolar panels connected to the inputs of power devices 103/103 a for easeof discussion which follows. Power devices 103 may already includefeatures which allow communication between power device 103 and mobilecomputing system 12. Power devices 103 a may be power devices similar topower devices 103 but have been retrofitted with local communicationdevice 110 to allow communication between power device 103 a and mobilecomputing system 12. The outputs of power devices 103/103 a are wired inseries to form a series string which may be connected across the inputof system power device 107 at terminals A and B.

Screen areas 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, and 58 of GUIs 500 may beincluded on one graphical screen or be displayed on different graphicalscreens (e.g. depending on the screen size available). In thedescription that follows, a touch screen is referenced by way of examplebut other screen such as computer monitors may be used where items maybe selected for example by mouse and pointer.

Descriptions which follow may assume the physical presence of a user andmobile computing system 12 in proximity to wiring configurations 111,system power devices 107, power devices 103/103 a, storage device 112and loads 109 of power system 10 retrofitted with local communicationdevice 110 or which already include features of local communicationdevice 110. Physical presence of a user and mobile computing system 12in proximity to wiring configurations 111 may enable a communicationbetween mobile computing system 112 and power devices 107. Thecommunication may be via use of a cable 16 and/or wireless connection 14as shown in FIG. 1E. Cable 16 may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB™) cableor any other data cable such as an optical fiber cable, coaxial cable orEthernet cables such as Cat5 or Cat5e for example. Wireless connection14 may be via wireless technologies such as Near-field communication(NFC), ZIGBEE™, Wi-Fi, Wireless USB™ and BLUETOOTH™. Physical presenceof the user and mobile computing system 12 may be further establishedand verified in that the communication may include a further feature ofauthentication/encryption, key management, trusted authority orhandshaking that goes on through local communication device 110. Thefurther feature may therefore be a way of detecting the physicalpresence of the user and mobile computing system 12 in the vicinity ofwiring configurations 111 and/or power devices 107. The further additionmay for example avoid an update to power system 10 using malicious codeor an attempt to update powers system 10 when a user or a malicious useris not in physical proximity to wiring configurations 111.

In general, an application running on mobile computing system 12 allowsa user (e.g. via local communication device 110) to communicate,control, monitor and configure system power devices 107, power devices103/103 a and/or storage device(s) 112. In general in the descriptionswhich follow screen areas 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, and 58 of GUIs500 may provide upload and download of data from server 326/network 324as well as data from one mobile computing system 12 to another mobilecomputing system 12 directly, via retrofit communication circuits suchas local communication device 110, existing communication circuitsand/or a combination of retrofit communication circuits, existingcommunication circuits and power line communications. Power linecommunications may be performed over power lines 120 between powerdevices 103/103 a and system power device (e.g. inverter) 107 which mayinclude as similar communication interface as communication interface129 for example.

In general, screen areas each may serve overall as an icon which whentouched or swiped by the user using a touch screen device such as asmart phone as shown in FIG. 1E, allows a number of sub menu options toappear. The sub menu may for example allow the user to view anotherpower system or distinct separate portions of power system 10 as shownby connections 150 a, 150 b, 150 c and 150 d in FIG. 1A for example.

GUIs 500 may include for example, a master screen area 50 which may givea user information as to the location of power system 10 for example,the local time and date, an indication as to the weather conditions atthe location, temperature at the location and the wind speed at thelocation of a power system 10. The local time and date are common toeach of the screen areas described below but other information may bedisplayed also or in addition to the local time and date for example.Three possible menu buttons are displayed which may give three possibleusages of the application running on mobile computing system 12 viathree menu buttons: a maintenance menu button, an installer's menubutton and a monitoring menu. Other buttons may be added, such as theprovision of a site management function for example. In the descriptionthat follows each of the screen areas may be presented to a userregardless of which of the three buttons is selected. However, eachscreen area while similar in appearance may present different options tothe user depending on which of the three buttons is selected. Accessand/or levels of access may also be provided to various areas by use ofusernames and passwords for example.

Screen area 51 may include a stage of charge (SOC) area which shows apercentage (%) SOC of storage device 112 which may be used in a powersystem 10. The percentage (%) SOC of storage device 112 is shown by across hatching. Further storage devices 112 used in power system 10 mayaccessed by pressing a screen button 510. In general, the percentage (%)SOC of storage devices 112 displayed may also serve as separate iconswhich when touched or swiped by the user allows shows a further detailabout a particular storage device 112. The charge/discharge history maybe uploaded via data communications module 308 to server 326, either onan ongoing, regular basis or when the user is in proximity to storagedevice 112 so as to allow uploading a snapshot of the state of charge(SOC) for further data storage and/or analysis.

A charge profile for storage device 112 may be similarly downloaded tolocal communication device 110 of storage device 112 from server 326.Using the example of a battery for storage device 112, the furtherdetail may include information of battery type, rating in terms ofvoltage, current and ampere hours (Ah), location of the battery, thenumber of times the battery has been charged/discharged, the projectedbattery life of a battery based on its usage. The location of a batterymay be established when mobile computing system 12 is in close vicinityto the battery, to assign a GPS co-ordinate to the battery from GPS 310and/or a unique identification (ID) number to the battery. Duringinstallation, the GPS co-ordinate to the battery (or other components ofpower system 10) and/or a unique identification (ID) number to thebattery may be printed out as a bar code which may be applied to thebattery housing for example. During maintenance and/or management ofpower system 10 the ID and GPS co-ordinates may be scanned using camera312 in order to verify that indeed the battery is the correct one and isin the correct location. A similar cross reference and verificationusing bar codes on the other components of power system 10 may be madeduring installation, maintenance and/or management of power system 10.

The further detail provided when icons touched or swiped by the user mayalso provide a remote mechanisms for a configuration and a control ofstorage devices 112 via use of respective system power devices 107 forexample. The configuration may include the option to disconnect and/ornot use a particular battery, the option to designate a battery to havegreater priority over the other batteries to be charged first forexample, to schedule a battery for replacement based on its currentusage, the option to change parameters of a charge profile for a batteryor to allow an upload and/or update of a charge profile for a battery.

Screen area 52 may show two loads 109 and indication to a user of theamount of an electrical parameter (e.g. power, voltage and/or current) aload 109 is presently consuming. A press of screen button 520 in screenarea 52 may show the consumption of the other loads 109 in power system10. Each of the two loads 109 displayed may also serve overall asseparate icons which when touched or swiped by the user allows shows afurther detail about a particular load 109. The detail about a load 109may include for example a load profile for a particular load 109. Theload profile may also include updated information with regards to anupdatable load demand history of the power system with reference todaily and nightly demand, weekday demand and monthly demand. The loadprofile may be updated and/or be configurable via screen area 52 inorder control power delivery to loads 109. Options may be provided topossibly disconnect load 109 or to change the voltage and/or currentssupplied to load 109 by providing access and control of power devices103/103 a and/or system power devices 107 which may be attached torespective loads 109. Screen area 52 may also include a text area whichindicates the total power (Pgen) currently being generated and theamount of power currently being shed (Pshed) or unutilized. Power may beshed since loads 109 and storage devices 112 might not need so much ofthe power currently being produced by power system 10. The amount ofpower currently being shed (Pshed) may prompt a user to consider to addadditional loads 109 and/or storage devices 112 currently not connectedand/or not drawing power. In some embodiments, when power generators(e.g. power sources 101) are capable of producing more power than loads109 and storage devices 112 can receive, the power generators may beoperated as to produce less than a maximum generation capacity, andPshed may indicate the difference between the maximum generationcapacity and the actual generation.

Screen area 53 may show the current power production of strings ingraphical format where a maximum possible amount of power (Max) for eachstring (St 1, St 2, St 3 and St 4) may be shown as a relative scale toeach other and the amount of power indicated by the height of a shadedbox. The relative scale may be indicative to a user of the possibilityof different number, configuration and types of power sources 101 foreach of strings St 1, St 2, St 3 and St 4. Wiring configurations 111 maybe examples of strings St 1, St 2, St 3 and St 4. The user, whenperforming maintenance and/or installation, may be able to identify afaulty string and access screen area 55 for example to obtain furtherdetails of currents and voltages at various points in a string whenlocated at particular part of power system 10 associated with the stringand the components of the string. In general, an application running onmobile computing system 12 allows a user (e.g. via local communicationdevice 110) to communicate, control, monitor and configure system powerdevices 107, power devices 103/103 a and/or storage device(s) 112. Byway of example, screen area 55 may provide a further function ofutilizing bypass units Q9 in power devices to short and or open circuitportions of a string in order to identify a faulty power device 103/103a or power source 101 and or faulty bypass diode connected to powersource 101 for example without having to remove electrical covers fromthe various components of power system 10 and perform electricaldiagnosis which may be dangerous and/or time consuming. For example,system maintenance personnel may use an option on screen area 55 todisconnect and/or short circuit power sources 101 one at a time (e.g. bytransmitting a signal to a power device 103 to active one or more bypassunits Q9 connected to a power source 101, or to operate a switch S1 todisconnect power flow from the power source to the power device), andcheck if/when disconnecting and/or short circuiting a faulty powersource 101 and/or power device 103 causes a string to no longer befaulty.

Screen area 54 may show a panel map of solar panels in relationship toeach other and with respect to the compass directions. The solar panels(for power sources 101) and/or module 103/103 a to which the user is inproximity to is shown shaded to the user on the screen. The user mayswipe the screen left and right or up and down to reveal other panels onthe map. A press or a swipe of the panel displayed shaded may showfurther details of the panel, perhaps in a way similar as shown inscreen area 55. In screen area 55, the ID number of the panel (ID XX)and the ID of the power device 103 (ID YY) are shown along with thevoltages and currents at the various point of connection between panelsand power devices 103/103 a.

Screen area 55 for example allows a user to obtain further details ofcurrents and voltages at various points in a string (e.g. string St 1,St 2, St 3 and St 4 shown in screen area 53) located at particular partof power system 10 associated with the string and the components of thestring. The user may swipe screen area 55 left and right or up and downto reveal other parts of a string or other strings. The user whenperforming maintenance and/or installation may be able to identify afaulty string and access screen area 55 for example to obtain furtherdetails of currents and voltages at various points in a string whenlocated at a particular part of power system 10 associated with thestring and the components of the string. Screen area 55 may provide afurther function of utilizing bypass units Q9 in power devices to shortand or open circuit portions of a string in order to identify a faultypower device 103/103 a or power source 101 for example without having toremove and/or re-attach electrical isolation covers from the varioushousings of components of power system 10, which may be dangerous(because live contacts are exposed) and time consuming. Reducing thenumber of times of removing and re-attaching electrical isolation coversfrom the various housings of electrical isolation covers mayadditionally help to preserve the integrity of the seals of theelectrical isolation covers. Preserving the integrity of the seals ofthe electrical isolation covers by avoiding unnecessary removal andre-attachment may additionally allow continued protection against theingress of contaminants such as water and/or dust which may damageinternal circuitry of components of power system 10.

Screen area 56 shows a load 109 to which the user is in proximity to isshown shaded to the user on the screen. System power device 107 areshown connected to wiring configurations 111 and one system power device107 which is connected to storage device 112. Pressing or swiping anelement indicating wiring configuration 111 may show further details ofwiring configuration 111 as shown in screen area 55. The user may swipethe screen left and right or up and down to reveal other parts of powersystem 10 for example. Screen area 56 may also serve as a user interfaceto provide communication, configuration and control of an alternative oradditional control function to that of system power device 107 by use ofprocessor 200 for example instead of or in addition to an existingprocessor of system power device 107.

Electrical installations may deteriorate with age and use and shouldtherefore be inspected and tested at regular intervals to check whetherthey are in a satisfactory condition for continued use. Safety checks ofelectrical installations are commonly referred to as a periodicinspection and test. The periodic inspection and test of an installationaims to reveal if any electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded,find any potential electric shock risks and fire hazards, identify anydefective electrical work, highlight any lack of earthing or bonding andpossibly identify a schedule of circuits in a circuit and theirrelationship to each other and the presence of adequate identificationand notices. Potential Induced Degradation (PID) is an undesirableproperty of some solar panels. The factors that enable PID (voltage,heat and humidity) may exist for example in a power system 10 which mayinclude solar photovoltaic panels for power sources 101. Monitoring andrecording of parameters measured and sensed over a period of timeaccording to features described above and below may provide a testingfor susceptibility to PID which may be important in any large-scalepower system which may include solar photovoltaic panels. The testingmay also determine if the mechanism causing PID is reversible, which maydetermine whether mitigating measures are required and what measures areappropriate.

The periodic inspection may additionally reveal the extent of any wearand tear, damage or other deterioration, any changes in the use of aninstallation that have led to, or which may lead to unsafe conditions.The features above mentioned for an established installation may also beincluded as part of the process of installing a new installation or aspart of the maintenance and/or new additions made to existinginstallations. In the descriptions which follow each of the same screenareas may be presented to a user regardless of selection of which ofbuttons selected. However, each screen area while similar in appearancemay present different options to the user depending on which of thebuttons selected. Access and/or levels of access may also be provided tovarious areas by use of usernames and passwords for example. As such,screen areas 57 and 58 which respectively show screens for a maintenanceportal and an installation portal which may share common features andfunctions.

Screen area 57 shows a screen for a maintenance portal from which a usermay select from visual inspection menu 570. Visual inspection menu 570may provide a check list of tasks and fillable areas by a user to allowthe user to report their findings as they go about a visual inspectionof an installation. The check list of tasks may help to ensure that aninstaller or maintenance person has followed all steps, that certifiedpeople only are on site and/or to provide in real time or near realtime, recoding and monitoring of steps being taken (e.g. for quality,regulatory and/or failure analysis purposes). The items of the visualinspection may include the ID and GPS co-ordinates on a bar code forexample which may be scanned using camera 312 in order to crossreference that indeed the item such as a power device 103/103 a, systempower device 107, power source 101 and storage device 112 are correctlyreferenced, is in the correct location and correctly referenced to eachother in terms of how they are connected to each other. The items of thevisual inspection may include the condition of cables and connectors tosee if any are damaged by weathering or heat damage due to over currentsand/or voltages. In the case where power sources 101 are photovoltaicpanels a visual inspection may note how a panel surface may be affectedby built-up dust or snow for example. As such, any problems may berecorded and/or reported by selection of a fault menu button 572. Thedetails of a potential fault may further include the possibility ofimproving the report by taking a photo with camera 312 of any potentialalong with its ID and/or location for example. If a part of power system10 is found to be faulty, replacement parts may be reported and orderedvia replacement parts menu 574.

Periodic inspection menu 576 may include areas for the testing andinspection of routine maintenance performed and installation performed.Part of periodic inspection menu 576 may scan a barcode/ID which mayinitiate a check list of tasks for a person performing installationand/or maintenance. The installation and/or maintenance may include avisual inspection and/or possibility of photographic reporting ofpossible visible faults or damage. Installation and/or maintenance maycheck that grounding/bonding is in place and allow the recording ofelectrical test result measurements such as insulation resistance,correct polarity, continuity checks, earth leakage. Installation and/ormaintenance may include the test of the effectiveness of residualcurrent devices (RCDs), fuses and isolators to ensure they performwithin predefined safety parameters.

Screen area 58 shows a screen for an installers' portal from which auser may select from commissioning menu 580 for example. Commissioningmenu 580 may similarly include the features of inspection menu 576 aswell as the ability to track progress of items presently being installedin an installation which may be uploaded to server 326. Commissioningmenu 580 may for example allow an installer or a maintenance person toplace mobile computing system 12 on the surface of a solar panel whilethe azimuth of the solar panel is measured and/or adjusted. GPS 310working in conjunction with gyroscope/accelerometer 328 may provide avisual indication on displays 306 and/or 206 as to if the panel has thecorrect azimuth. The recorded progress of and the features similar tothe features of inspection menu 576 may then be used to provide acertification of safe operation of a power system. Items recorded aspart of the certification using features of inspection menu 576 may thenbe used as a comparison at a later stage as part of a subsequentinspection and test of the power system. A real-time help menu 582 mayalso be provided where an installer or maintenance person can asktechnical questions via network 324/server 326 about aspects of aparticular component in the power system. A walkie-talkie menu 584 mayallow a two-way conversation between personnel performing installationand/or maintenance functions where one of the personnel may be located adistance away and the other may be able to make a quick request to theother to switch something on or off, isolate a circuit, feed a cable orfetch a tool for example.

With screen areas 57 and 58 a provision may be provided to allow onlinediagnosis of problems and inefficiencies of a power system (e.g. powersystem 10). The data measured which may be indicative of problems andinefficiencies in a power system may be uploaded via mobile computingsystem 12 to a person who may be able to provide marketing and/orsupport advice based on an analysis of the data measured while connectedto an installer or maintenance person. The marketing and/or supportadvice based on the analysis may be for example to encourage theinstaller or maintenance person to add a storage system by realizingthat a lot of power is going unused which may be saved for later usage.

Reference is made to FIG. 6A which shows a flowchart of a method 600 andagain to FIG. 4, according to illustrative aspects of the disclosure.Housing 46 which may house system power device 107 may include dataconnector 44 which may allow the connection of cable 16 between localcommunication device 110 and mobile computing system 12. Cable glands 40a and 40 b may be used for the insertion and securing of power lines 120of FIG. 1B (not shown in FIG. 4) for which the conductors of power lines120 may then be terminated inside housing 46. System power device 107 isshown as a system power device designed for receiving a retrofitcommunication system. The retrofitting (step 601) may include theattachment, electrical termination and location of local communicationdevice 110 (not shown in FIG. 4) inside housing 46 (step 603) andhousing 46 modified to allow display 206 to be mounted on the frontpanel of housing 46. Display 206 may alternatively be a touch screenmounted on the on the front panel of housing 46 which may provide someof the features of GUI 500 described above. The retrofitting at step 601may further include the attachment of a data connector 44 which connectsto local communication device 110. Alternatively, local communicationdevice 110 may be attached in close proximity or vicinity to systempower device 107 or power device 103.

Reference is made to FIG. 6B which shows a flowchart of a method 610,according to illustrative aspects of the disclosure. In the descriptionwhich follows a computer readable medium such as storages 202 and/or 302may have a program code recorded thereon which may be used for executionmobile computing system 12. Graphical user interface 500 on display 306and/or displays 206 may be utilized as an input device for a user. Theinput device may be utilized when the user is in close proximity topower modules 103/103 a and system power devices 107.

At step 615, mobile computing system 12 may connect to localcommunication device 110 which may be retrofit in power modules 103/103a and system power devices 107 according to method 600 described above.Connection to local communication device 110 may be may be via wirelesstechnologies such as Near-field communication (NFC), ZIGBEE™, Wi-Fi,Wireless USB™ and BLUETOOTH™ and or cable 16 for example. Alternatively,a communication device similar to local communication device 110 mayalready be an integral part of power modules 103/103 a and system powerdevices 107. At step 615 mobile computing system 12 connected to localcommunication device 110 may be established responsive to when the userand/or the mobile computing system 12 are in close proximity to localcommunication device 110. When the user and/or the mobile computingsystem 12 are in close proximity to local communication device 110 atstep 617, the credentials of the user may be authenticated. Anapplication running on mobile computing system 12 to provide GUI 500 mayrequest a user name and password from the user or encryption, keymanagement, trusted authority or handshaking that goes on through aninteraction between local communication device 110 and mobile computingsystem 12.

Alternatively, the interaction may be between a GUI similar to GUI 500provided on display 206, similar requests may also include a user nameand password from the user and/or that the user is in possession of asmart card which enables the user to operate the GUI provided on display206.

Therefore, as a result of the interaction of the user at step 617, thepresence of the user may be detected and the credentials of the userauthenticated at decision step 619. At decision 619, if the credentialsof the user and/or mobile computing system 12 is in proximity to localcommunication device 110 the graphical user interface of localcommunication device 110 and/or GUI 500 on mobile computing system 12may be operated at step 621. Otherwise the user may have to try andconnect mobile computing system 12 to local communication device 110 orthe smart card which may enable the user to operate the GUI provided ondisplay 206 at step 615. If at any point in time the user moves away tobreak the connection between connect mobile computing system 12 to localcommunication device 110 at decision 619, the presence of the user mayhave to be detected again at step 617 and the credentials of the userre-authenticated at decision step 619.

In some cases, a fire department may obtain credentials of authorizedusers of a power system installed in geographic area(s) that the firedepartment serves, so that personnel of the fire department may use theGUI running on the personnel's mobile computing system to access andcontrol the power system when an emergency occurs (e.g., a photovoltaicpanel catches a fire). In some implementations, the fire department maysearch a published database, by zipcode(s) of its service area(s), toget the credentials of the authorized users of all the power systemsinstalled within its service area(s). The fire department may search thepublished database by the address of the power system having anemergency to obtain the credentials of authorized users of the powersystem. In some other implementations, the owner of the power systemsmay provide the credentials to the fire department. In some other cases,the fire department may be given, by the owner of the power systems,generic credentials that can be used to access all power systemsinstalled within geographic area(s) that the fire department serves.

Features of operating the GUI provided on display 206 and/or GUI 500 onmobile computing system 12 at step 615 may provide for example an updatewhere necessary to firmware versions of power modules 103/103 a and/orsystem power devices 107 with new firmware versions. As such firmwareupdates to power modules 103/103 a and/or system power devices 107 maybe provided from a connection to server 326 provided by the mobilecomputing system 12 or from storage 302 when a connection to server 326is not available.

At step 615, for example, the GUI provided on display 206 and/or GUI 500on mobile computing system 12 may provide a schedule of tasks for a userto follow. The user as they move about a power following the schedule oftasks may provide an upload of data derived from the following of thetasks performed on the power modules 103/103 a and/or system powerdevices 107 to server 326 via the mobile computing system 12. The uploadof data may be in the context of the user being in proximity to aparticular power module 103/103 a and/or system power device 107 so thatthe data may automatically include the information of the particularpower module 103/103 a and/or system power device 107. The informationmay include the firmware version, GPS co-ordinates and unique ID numberof the particular power module 103/103 a and/or system power device 107.

At step 615, for example, of strings such as strings St 1, St 2, St 3and St 4 for which wiring configurations 111 may be examples of stringsSt 1, St 2, St 3 and St 4 may be tested. The testing of strings may beby applying bypass unit Q9 in each string to short-out the output of theseries connected power modules 130/103 a outputs which form the seriesstring for example. Application of bypass unit Q9 may be as a result ofa user moving along a string or the application of each bypass unit Q9may be conveyed via power line communications through the string to aparticular power module 103/103 a and/or system power device 107.Application of bypass units Q9 therefore be used to identify potentialfault conditions in a series strings for example. A possible testing ofa string by use of GUI 500 may be that the testing provides a mitigationof a damage to the housings and the circuits of the power modules103/103 a or system power devices 107 to the environment external to thehousings. The damage to the resalable accesses of the housings by goingthrough the reseal-able accesses to inspect and test the circuits ofpower modules 103/103 a or system power devices 107 may therefore beminimized by virtue of the testing using GUI 500.

One or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure herein may include ageneral-purpose or special-purpose computer system including variouscomputer hardware components, which are discussed in greater detailbelow. Various embodiments herein may also include computer-readablemedia for carrying or having computer-executable instructions,computer-readable instructions, or data structures stored thereon. Suchcomputer-readable media may be any available media, which may beaccessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer system. Byway of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media caninclude non-transitory computer-readable media. Such computer-readablemedia can include physical storage media such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, flashdisk, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other media which can be used tocarry or store desired program code mechanisms in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions, computer-readable instructions, ordata structures and which may be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer system.

In this description and in the following claims, a “computer system” maybe defined as one or more software or firmware modules, one or morehardware modules, or combinations thereof, which work together toperform operations on electronic data. For example, the definition ofcomputer system may include the hardware components of a personalcomputer, as well as software or firmware modules, such as the operatingsystem of the personal computer. The physical layout of the modules maybe not important. A computer system may include one or more computersconnected via a computer network. Likewise, a computer system mayinclude a single physical device (such as a smart-phone) where internalmodules (such as a memory and processor) work together to performoperations on electronic data. While any computer system may be mobile,the term “mobile computer system” especially may include laptopcomputers, net-book computers, cellular telephones, smart-phones,wireless telephones, personal digital assistants, portable computerswith touch sensitive screens and the like.

In this description and in the following claims, a “network” may bedefined as any architecture where two or more computer systems mayexchange data. The term “network” may include wide area network,Internet local area network, Intranet, wireless networks such as“Wi-Fi”, virtual private networks, mobile access network using accesspoint name (APN) and Internet. Exchanged data may be in the form ofelectrical signals that are meaningful to the two or more computersystems. When data may be transferred, or provided over a network oranother communication connection (either hard wired, wireless, or acombination of hard wired or wireless) to a computer system or computerdevice, the connection may be properly viewed as a computer-readablemedium. Thus, any such connection may be properly termed acomputer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also beincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general-purpose computer system or special-purposecomputer system to perform a certain function or group of functions.

The term “server” as used herein, refers to a computer system includinga processor, data storage and a network adapter generally configured toprovide a service over the computer network. A computer system whichreceives a service provided by the server may be known as a “client”computer system. The term “data” as used herein refers to a processedanalogue signal, the processing including analogue to digital conversioninto digital information accessible to a computer system.

It may be noted that various connections are set forth between elementsherein. These connections are described in general and, unless specifiedotherwise, may be direct or indirect; this specification may be notintended to be limiting in this respect. Further, elements of oneembodiment may be combined with elements from other embodiments inappropriate combinations or sub-combinations. Examples above have shownhow a retrofit circuit such as local communication device 110 applied topower sources 101, power devices 103/103 a, system power device 107,storage devices 112 and loads 109 may allow GUI 500 of mobile computingsystem 12 various function modes which may be useful to a user. Thefunctional modes provided by GUI 500 may be utilized during aninstallation, maintenance and/or monitoring in the interconnected powersystem 10 when the user of the GUI 500 is in close proximity to each ofthe components of power system 10. Features of mobile computing system12 may allow for firmware updates to components fitted with localcommunication device 110 and/or another similar communication device.Features of mobile computing system 12 using GUI 500 in close proximityto the components of power system 10 may further allow the monitoring ofpersonnel assigned to perform maintenance or install new installationsfor example. Firmware updates to components fitted with localcommunication device 110 and/or another similar communication device mayallow for a firmware update from data previously stored in the mobilecomputing system 12 using GUI 500 and/or from server 326 via network 324when the user is in close proximity to the components of power system10. The firmware update from data previously stored in the mobilecomputing system 12 may be utilized when a connection to and from server326 via network 324 may not be available. Firmware updates mayadditionally utilize and interface with existing power linecommunication between components of power system 10.

Alternatively, or additionally, according to embodiments describedabove, use of GUI 500 may provide interactive conversation with asupport team via text, voice, video streaming, etc. The support team mayhave access to data and/or support procedures that can be made availableto maintenance and/or installation personnel communicating with thesupport team via GUI 500. According to another feature of one or moreembodiments, mobile computing system 12 may obtain an information frompower devices 103/103 a, system power device 107, storage devices 112and loads 109 from local communication device 110 or a quick response(QR) code, bar code or another type of label attached to the variouscomponents of a power system. The information may allow maintenanceand/or installation personnel following a check list of tasks toconfigure the various components of a power system while moving aboutand performing tasks to the power system.

Walkie talkie menu 584 may further provide communication for two or morepeople working the site of a power system. The power system may haveinverters (e.g. where system power devices 107 are inverters) in two ormore different locations, with one inverter as a master and one or moreas slaves. The master may configure all the other inverters via GUI 500.Alternatively, the master inverter may communicate a configuration tothe one or more slave inverters by power line communications (PLCs) asan alternative or in addition to mobile computing systems 12 being thegateways. The walkie-talkie menu 584 for example may allow takingconfiguration data from one mobile computing system 12 and sending it toanother mobile computing system 12 directly. Configuration data from onemobile computing system 12 may be transmitted to another mobilecomputing system 12 via retrofit communication circuits such as localcommunication device 110, existing communication circuits and/or acombination of retrofit communication circuits, existing communicationcircuits and power line communications.

Embodiments for local communication device 110 may also be realized toinclude a power line communication (PLC) device which may bemagnetically coupled to power lines, and the magnetic coupling might notrequire direct electrical connection to the power lines whichinter-connect wiring configurations 111 to system power devices 107 andloads 109. The PLC devices may connect to the power cables via clampingmechanism and may enable communications between various parts of powersystem 10 in order to provide monitoring and control of the variousdevices within power system 10. The clamping mechanism may also providea mechanism to power local communication device 110.

All optional and preferred features and modifications of the describedembodiments and dependent claims are usable in all aspects of theinvention taught herein. Furthermore, the individual features of thedependent claims, as well as all optional and preferred features andmodifications of the described embodiments are combinable andinterchangeable with one another.

Various features are further described in the following clauses:

Clause 1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors connected to a memory and configured to interfaceto a system power device; and

a communication interface operatively attached to the one or moreprocessors,

wherein the communication interface is adapted to provide a connectionto a mobile computing system of a user, and

wherein the connection is established responsive to when the user andthe mobile computing system are in close proximity to the apparatus andcredentials of the user are authenticated.

Clause 2. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the one or more processorsand the communication interface are operatively connected to the systempower device.

Clause 3. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the one or more processorsand the communication interface housed in a housing of a system powerdevice is a part of a retrofit to the system power device.

Clause 4. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the processor and thecommunication interface are housed in a housing of the system powerdevice.

Clause 5. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the processor and thecommunication interface are configured to provide a firmware update ofthe system power device provided from the mobile computing systemattached to a server.

Clause 6. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the processor and thecommunication interface are configured to provide an upload of a datafrom the memory to a server via the mobile computing system.

Clause 7. The apparatus of clause 2, wherein communication interface isconfigured to assign a Global Positioning System (GPS) co-ordinate tothe system power device from the mobile computing system responsive tothe mobile computing system being in proximity to the system powerdevice.

Clause 8. The apparatus of clause 3, further comprising: a displayoperatively attached to the processor and mounted to a surface of ahousing of the system power device.

Clause 9. The apparatus of clause 1, further comprising:

a sensor and a sensor interface operatively attached between theprocessor and the system power device, adapted to sense a parameter ofthe system power device, wherein the parameter is selected from a groupof parameters consisting: a voltage, a current, a power, a temperature,an irradiance, coulombic charge.

Clause 10. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the system power devicefurther comprises:

a bypass unit adapted to provide a bypass across an input of the systempower device or across an output of the system power device, wherein thebypass is operable from a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobilecomputing system.

Clause 11. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the system power device isa direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) converter.

Clause 12. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the system power device isa direct current (DC) to DC converter.

Clause 13. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the system power device isconnected to a charge storage device.

Clause 14. A method comprising:

retrofitting a retrofit circuit, having a) one or more processors, b) acommunication interface, and c) a memory, to a system power device,wherein the system power device includes at least one sensor unit and atleast one bypass unit operatively connected to the retrofit circuit;

housing the retrofit circuit in a housing of the system power device;

communicatively connecting a mobile computing system to the retrofitcircuit, wherein the connecting is established responsive to when a userand the mobile computing system are in close proximity to the retrofitcircuit;

authenticating credentials of the user, thereby detecting a presence ofthe user and the mobile computing device is in close proximity to theretrofit circuit; and

operating a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile computingsystem responsive to the connecting and the authenticating.

Clause 15. The method of clause 14, wherein the operating providescontrolling and monitoring of the at least one sensor unit and the atleast one bypass unit.

Clause 16. The method of clause 14, wherein the operating preventsunnecessary exposure of live contacts of the system power device by areseal-able access of the housing being kept closed.

Clause 17. The method of clause 15, wherein the operating provides amitigation of a damage to the system power device by an exposure of thesystem power device to an environment external to the housing, whereinthe damage is by opening a reseal-able access of the housing, andwherein substantially the controlling and the monitoring minimizesrepeated access to the system power device through the reseal-ableaccess.

Clause 18. The method of clause 17, wherein the damage to the systempower device is by an exposure of the system power device to theenvironment external to the housing by a secondary damage to thereseal-able access.

Clause 19. The method of clause 14, wherein the operating provides afirmware update of the system power device from a connection to a serverprovided by the mobile computing system.

Clause 20. The method of clause 14, wherein the operating comprises:

providing a schedule of tasks; and

following the schedule of tasks and providing an upload of data derivedfrom the following of the tasks performed on the system power device toa server via the mobile computing system.

Clause 21. The method of clause 20, wherein the schedule of tasks forthe system power device is selected from a group of schedulesconsisting: an installation schedule, a maintenance schedule, anoperating schedule, an inspection and test schedule.

Clause 22. The method of clause 20, wherein the following of theschedule of tasks by an operative enables monitoring actions of theoperative responsive to operative use of the GUI, wherein monitoringdata is up-loadable to the server via the mobile computing system.

Clause 23. A power system comprising:

a plurality of power sources coupled to inputs of respective powermodules;

a plurality of sensors operatively coupled to both the inputs andoutputs of the power modules;

a plurality of bypass circuits operatively coupled to respective outputsof the power modules, wherein the outputs of the power modules arecoupled in a series connection to provide a plurality of seriesconnections applied across a plurality of power devices; and

a plurality of communication interfaces operatively attached to both thepower modules and the power devices,

wherein the communication interfaces are configured to provide aplurality of communication connections to a mobile computing system of auser, and

wherein the communication connections are established responsive to whenthe user and the mobile computing system are in close proximity to thepower modules or the power devices and an authenticity of the mobilecomputing system and the user are verified, thereby to detect a presenceof the user and the mobile computing device is in close proximity to thepower modules and the power devices.

Clause 24. A method of updating, controlling and monitoring aninter-connected power system including a plurality of power sourcescoupled to inputs of respective power modules, a plurality of sensorsoperatively coupled to both the inputs and outputs of the power modules,a plurality of bypass circuits operatively coupled to the respectiveoutputs of the power modules, wherein the outputs of the power modulesare coupled in a series connection to provide a plurality of seriesconnections applied across the inputs of a plurality of power devices,and a plurality of communication interfaces operatively attached to boththe power modules and the power devices, using a graphical userinterface (GUI) and a user input from a mobile computing system, themethod comprising:

communicatively connecting the mobile computing system to the powermodules or power devices detecting thereby a presence of the mobilecomputing system in a vicinity of the power modules or power devices;

responsive to the detecting, communicating with a user of the mobilecomputing system, thereby verifying an authenticity of the user;

establishing current firmware versions of the power modules or powerdevices; and

responsive to the establishing, updating when necessary, respectivefirmware versions of the power modules or power devices with newfirmware versions.

Clause 25. The method of clause 24, further comprising:

controlling and monitoring of the sensors and the bypass circuits.

Clause 26. The method of clause 24, further comprising:

providing firmware updates of the power modules or power devices from aconnection to a server provided by the mobile computing system.

Clause 27. The method of clause 24, further comprising:

providing a schedule of tasks; and

following the schedule of tasks and providing an upload of data derivedfrom the following of the tasks performed on the power modules or powerdevices to a server via the mobile computing system.

Clause 28. The method of clause 24, further comprising:

testing each of the series connections by applying respective bypasscircuits in each of the series connections, thereby potentiallyidentifying a fault condition in each of the series connections.

Clause 29. The method of clause 28, wherein the testing provides amitigation of a damage to housings of the power modules or power devicesand the circuits of the power modules or power devices to an environmentexternal to the housings, wherein the damage is by opening reseal-ableaccesses of the housings, wherein substantially the testing minimizesrepeated access to the power modules or power devices through thereseal-able accesses.

Clause 30. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program coderecorded thereon, for execution on a mobile computing system having agraphical user interface and a user input device, to update, control andmonitor an inter-connected power system including a plurality of powersources coupled to inputs of respective power modules, a plurality ofsensors operatively coupled to both the inputs and outputs of the powermodules, a plurality of bypass circuits operatively coupled to therespective outputs of the power modules, wherein the outputs of thepower modules are coupled in a series connection to provide a pluralityof series connections applied across the inputs of a plurality of powerdevices, a plurality of communication interfaces operatively attached toboth the power modules and the power devices, comprising:

a first program code for communicatively connecting a mobile computingsystem to the power modules or power devices detecting thereby apresence of the mobile computing system in a vicinity of the powermodules or power devices;

a second program code responsive to the detecting, communicating with auser of the mobile computing system, thereby verifying an authenticityof the user;

a third program code of establishing current firmware versions of thepower modules or power devices; and

a fourth program code responsive to the establishing, updating whennecessary, respective firmware versions of the power modules or powerdevices with new firmware versions.

Clause 31. The non-transitory computer readable medium having programcode recorded thereon, for execution on the mobile computing systemaccording to clause 30, further comprising:

a fifth program code of testing each of the series connections byapplying respective bypass circuits in each of the series connections,thereby potentially identifying a fault condition in each of the seriesconnections,

wherein the testing provides a mitigation of a damage to housings of thepower modules or power devices and the circuits of the power modules orpower devices to an environment external to the housings,

wherein the damage is by opening reseal-able accesses of the housings,and

wherein substantially the testing minimizes repeated access to the powermodules or power devices through the reseal-able accesses.

Following are examples of the disclosed features.

Examples

As disclosed herein, aspects of features may reduce the time spent onremoval and reclosing of housing covers, reduce the exposure of openlive contacts, reduce the wear and tear on the housing seal integrity,and/or the like. For example, a service technician may sendconfiguration instruction for a PV optimizer connected to the undersideof a PV panel but issuing reconfiguration commands to the system PVinverter who in turn transfers the commands to the PV optimizer, thusreconfiguring the PV optimizer without opening the housing to connect toan internal digital interface of the PV optimizer located inside thehousing.

As disclosed herein, features may allow automatic transfer of data,configurations, software, firmware, and/or the like, between a systempower device (such as 107, 103, 103 a, and/or the like) when it is notconnected to the internet, and a remote server 326 on the internet. Thissituation may occur for example when a PV inverter is located in abuilding basement, and the building basement lacks an internetconnection available for connection to the inverter. A system powerdevice 107 may be a central PV system inverter, a PV sub-systeminverter, a PV converter, a PV optimizer, and/or the like. For example,a PV inverter, converter, or optimizer is installed at an undergroundlocation, the inverter, converter, or optimizer comprises an outdatedfirmware revision, the firmware revision number and configurationsetting are automatically transferred to the computerized device (forexample, mobile device or mobile terminal) of the installer. When theinstaller leaves the building, the connection to the inverter isdisconnected and the device automatically receives an updated firmwarerevision and configuration settings. The next time the installerconnects to the PV inverter, converter, or optimizer the firmware andconfiguration settings are automatically updated on the PV inverter. Inthis example, the inverter, converter, or optimizer may receive theupdates from the remote server 326 by using a computerized device (forexample, mobile device or mobile terminal) of the installer as anasynchronous data carrier, where the connections may not be establishedat the same time. For example, being connected to one or the other in achronologically exclusive manner. When the installer enters the buildingagain, the computerized device may be disconnected from the remoteserver 326.

As used herein, the term automatically means without user intervention,and may also mean that limited user intervention is required, such assemi-automatically. For example, in some cases an automatic action mayrequire user selection or intervention, such as entering a password, averification code, a “not a robot” confirmation, and/or the like. Thesemanual operations performed as part of an automatic process, may be doneonce, periodically, frequently, before/after certain actions, and/or thelike. As used herein, the term establish, when used to describe anaction resulting in a digital computer connection between componentsand/or devices, means the initiation of a data connection (for example,a digital connection) which may include a physical connection, aprotocol for establishing the connection, a handshaking, anauthentication, a verification, a challenge-response, a CAPTCHA (anacronym for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computersand Humans Apart), and/or the like. As used herein, the term processormean a computerized processor that interprets and executes software (forexample, digitally encoded instructions) a configured field programmablegate array (FPGA), a group of digital hardware logic circuits, firmware,program code in memory, and/or the like.

In a further example, a PV inverter may track and/or monitor the actionsof a service technician, and installer, and/or the like during theirwork on a PV system; and transfer the datalog recording the work to acentral and/or server 326, such as the server of the manufacturer tomonitor warranty violations, such as the server of a maintenancecontract company to monitor unauthorized access, such as the server of amaintenance contract company to monitor an employee's activity, and/orthe like. For example, the location and/or time of a technician workingon a system may be monitored and transferred to a remote server.

As disclosed herein, features may allow remote access to a system powerdevice 107 for receiving data and/or configuration parameters, sendingreconfiguration instructions, reconfiguration data, profiles, software,firmware, and/or the like. For example, a remote user may access asystem power device 107 to troubleshoot an installation problem, such asa remote expert user, a remote representative of the equipmentmanufacturer, a remote support team, a back-office support technician,and/or the like. The remote user may want to perform a firmware update,such as when a system power device 107 was shipped to a customer withoutthe latest firmware, with the firmware for a different installation, adifferent region, a different country, a different language, and/or thelike.

Similar, the configuration setting may be updated by a remote user. Theremote user may be an onsite user that is prevented (either permanentlyor temporarily) from accessing the system power device 107, such as aremote system power device, a system power device located in a basementwhen the user is on the roof, and/or the like. For example, the remoteuser is an installer on the roof installing PV panels, and the locationsof the panels are configured on the system power device 107 using GPScoordinates, physical descriptions, digital video images, digital stillimages, and/or the like. For example, the remote user is an installer onthe roof of a residence, and after completing the installation of astring of PV panels on one side of a roof, may want to reconfigure thePV inverter to separately test the installed string. For example, theinstaller has installed three or more PV panel strings, and may wish toreconfigure each string by connecting it separately to the PV inverter,and separately testing the string.

The remote user may be within a few meters of the power generatingdevices, such as the PV panels, on the roof of a building, and may haveto travel an access route comprising many meters to reach the PVinverter to update a configuration (such as reconfigure) the PV inverterto test a string of PV panels just installed. For example, thetechnician is less than 10 meters from the PV panels but over 20 metersdistance along the access route to the PV inverter. The user may be lessthan 4 meters from the furthest PV panel and greater than 6 meters fromdistance along the access route to the PV inverter. This may allow theuser to reconfigure the PV inverter remotely, while monitoring theeffects of the reconfiguration by physical inspection.

The physical inspection may be implemented by the physical presence ofthe user near the power generating devices, while changing theconfiguration of the system power device 107. The physical presence mayinclude a physical inspection, such as a visual inspection, an auditoryinspection, thermal inspection, an olfactory inspection, a tactileinspection, and/or the like. The user may be within a physiologicalsensory distance (such as between 0 and 20 meters, depending on thesensory type) from the PV panels to allow the inspection during theconfiguration change, and within data communication interface distance(such as between 0 and 100 meters, depending on the data interfacetype). For example, during the testing of a string of inverters, theuser may smell a burning of isolation when the VP optimizer is connectedwith reverse polarity, the interconnection has a short, and/or the like.For example, the sound of sparking may alert a user that areconfiguration is causing a dangerous fire hazard situation, and theuser may then send a command to immediately stop the PV inverteroperation as a result of the auditory perception.

For example, a PV service technician may isolate and/or troubleshoot aPV system power generation issue by separately connecting each string tothe system power device 107, and reconfiguring the system power devicefor that string, such as when each string comprises a different numberof PV panels, different total power, different maximum voltage, and/orthe like. In this example, the technician may wish to mix and match PVstrings to isolate the problem, such as adding strings, subtractingstrings, adding panels, subtracting panels, reconfiguring/repositioningthe string wiring 111, and/or the like. The remote access of atechnician to the system power device, while working on a powergeneration device connected to the power device, may increase theinstaller's safety by, reducing the number of times the installer isrequired to climb a ladder to reconfigure the system power devicesettings. Thus the installer may remain on the roof, change the wiring111 of the system, send a reconfiguration request to the PV inverter,and then test the resulting reconfiguration to test the installed systemcomponents. When the reconfiguration results in an adverse event, suchas sparking, burning, and/or the like, the installer may send a commandto the inverter to terminate the adverse event, such as immediately stopdrawing power from the PV panels and/or the like.

For example, a walkie-talkie function (as discussed above) on thecomputerized device (for example, mobile device or mobile terminal) usedby a technician allows real-time and automatic connection to a remotesupport team for assistance with an installation, maintenance, upgrade,and/or the like, of a PV system.

The local connection between a computerized device (for example, mobiledevice or mobile terminal) and a system power device may be a wired or awireless connection. For example, the local connection between acomputerized device (for example, mobile device or mobile terminal) anda system power device 107 may comprise a Near Field Communicationconnection, a Short Message Service connection, a BLUETOOTH™ connection,a ZIGBEE™ connection, a WiFi connection, a universal serial busconnection, an Ethernet connection, a general-purpose interface busconnection, a serial connection, a parallel connection, a PLCconnection, a point-to-point wireless connection, and/or the like.

Disclosed herein are aspects of a computerized device (for example,mobile device or mobile terminal) for accessing a power generationsystem. The device may comprise at least one processor (such as at 105,200, 300, and/or the like), a first communication interface configuredto establish a local data connection to an electrical power device 107,a second communication interface configured to establish a remote dataconnection to a remote server 326, and at least one storage medium,having stored thereon processor instructions. When the processorinstructions are executed on the at least one processor, the processorinstruction may configure the computerized device to establish the localdata connection between the computerized device to the electrical powerdevice 107. The processor instructions may configure the computerizeddevice to receive at least one system status record from the electricalpower device 107. The processor instructions may configure thecomputerized device to establish the remote data connection between theat least one processor to the remote server 326. The processorinstructions may configure the computerized device to send the at leastone system status record to the remote server.

Here as elsewhere in the specification and claims, ranges can becombined to form new and non-disclosed ranges.

Specific dimensions, specific materials, and/or specific shapesdisclosed herein are example in nature and do not limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. The disclosure herein of particular values andparticular ranges of values for given parameters are not exclusive ofother values and ranges of values that may be useful in one or more ofthe examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is envisioned that any twoparticular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define theendpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the givenparameter (i.e., the disclosure of a first value and a second value fora given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing that any valuebetween the first and second values could also be employed for the givenparameter). For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to havevalue A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned thatparameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z.Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges ofvalues for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping ordistinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value thatmight be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example,if parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 2-9,it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of valueswithin this range, including 2-8, 2.5-3, 4-9, etc.

The present disclosure may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor (such as at 105, 200, 300, and/or the like) tocarry out aspects of the present disclosure, such as transfer data to orfrom a component of a PV system, update data, software, firmware, and/orthe like on a component of the PV system, and/or the like.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium (such as at 202, 302, and/or the like) or to anexternal computer or external storage device via a network, for example,the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or awireless network.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present disclosure may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network. In some aspects, electroniccircuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry,field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays(PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions byutilizing state information of the computer readable programinstructions to configure the electronic circuitry, in order to performaspects of the present disclosure.

Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods (such as at600, 610, and/or the like), apparatus (systems), and computer programproducts according to features of the disclosure. It will be understoodthat each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams,and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or blockdiagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

The flowchart and block diagrams (such as at 600, 610, and/or the like)in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operationof possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer programproducts according to various features of the present disclosure. Inthis regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may representa module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one ormore executable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted inthe blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example,two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry outcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

In the description of various illustrative features, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which isshown, by way of illustration, various features in which aspects of thedisclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other featuresmay be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made,without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

It may be noted that various connections are set forth between elementsherein. These connections are described in general and, unless specifiedotherwise, may be direct or indirect; this specification may be notintended to be limiting in this respect. Further, elements of onefeature may be combined with elements from other features in appropriatecombinations or sub-combinations.

All optional and preferred features and modifications of the describedfeatures and dependent claims are usable in all aspects of the featurestaught herein. Furthermore, the individual features of the dependentclaims, as well as all optional and preferred features and modificationsof the described features are combinable and interchangeable with oneanother.

Various features are further described in the following additionalclauses:

Clause 32. A computerized device for accessing a power generationsystem, comprising: at least one processor; a first communicationinterface configured to establish a local data connection to anelectrical power device; a second communication interface configured toestablish a remote data connection to a remote server; and at least onestorage medium, having stored thereon processor instructions that, whenexecuted on the at least one processor, configure the computerizeddevice to: establish the local data connection between the computerizeddevice and the electrical power device, receive at least one systemstatus record from the electrical power device, establish the remotedata connection between the at least one processor and the remoteserver, and send the at least one system status record to the remoteserver.

Clause 33. A computer program product comprising a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having stored thereon processorinstructions for accessing a power generation system that, when executedby at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to:establish a local data connection, using a first communicationinterface, between the at least one processor and an electrical powerdevice; receive, by the at least one processor, at least one systemstatus record from the electrical power device establish a remote dataconnection, using a second communication interface, between the at leastone processor and a remote server; and send, from the at least oneprocessor, the at least one system status record to the remote server.

Clause 34. A method of accessing a power generation system, the methodcomprising: establishing a local data connection, using a firstcommunication interface, between a computerized device and an electricalpower device; receiving, by the computerized device, at least one systemstatus record from the electrical power device establishing a remotedata connection, using a second communication interface, between thecomputerized device and a remote server; and sending, from thecomputerized device, the at least one system status record to the remoteserver.

Clause 35. An electrical power device for accessing a power generationsystem comprising: at least one processor; a communication interfaceconfigured to establish a local data connection to a client terminal;and at least one storage medium, having stored thereon processorinstruction that configure the electrical power device to: establish thelocal data connection with the client terminal, and send at least onesystem status record to the client terminal.

Clause 36. A method of accessing a power generation system, the methodcomprising: establishing, with an electrical power device, a local dataconnection with a client terminal, and sending, from the electricalpower device via the local data connection, at least one system statusrecord to the client terminal.

Clause 37. The computerized device, electrical power device, computerprogram product, or methods of any one of the preceding clauses, whereinthe at least one system status record comprises at least oneconfiguration version, and wherein the processor instructions, whenexecuted, further configure the computerized device or electrical powerdevice to: receive at least one configuration update from the remoteserver responsive to the at least one configuration version; and send tothe electrical power device the at least one configuration update.

Clause 38. The computerized device, electrical power device, computerprogram product, or methods of clause 37, wherein the at least oneconfiguration update comprises a firmware update or a configurationdataset.

Clause 39. The computerized device, electrical power device, computerprogram product, or methods of clauses 37 or 38, wherein the at leastone configuration version represents/is indicative of/is associatedwith/determines a configuration of at least one component of aphotovoltaic system, wherein the photovoltaic system components comprisethe electrical power device, a photovoltaic power inverter, aphotovoltaic power optimizer, or a photovoltaic power converter.

Clause 40. The computerized device, electrical power device, computerprogram product, or methods of any one of the preceding clauses, whereinthe at least one system status record comprises an authorized accesslog, an un-authorized access log, a unique identification (ID) number, aglobal positioning system co-ordinate data, a user name, a password, anencryption key, a record of an updated firmware version, a record of aprevious or current firmware version, or an error log.

Clause 41. The computerized device, electrical power device, computerprogram product, or methods of any one of the preceding clauses, whereinthe methods further comprise, or the processor instructions, whenexecuted, further configure the device to: disconnect(ing) the local orremote data connections.

Clause 42. The computerized device, electrical power device, computerprogram product, or methods of any one of the preceding clauses, whereinthe receiving at least one system status record from the electricalpower device, and sending the at least one system status record to theremote server are performed sequentially or asynchronously, such as notat the same time.

Clause 43. The computerized device, electrical power device, computerprogram product, or methods of any one of the preceding clauses, whereinthe electrical power device is configured to, or perform, input(ing)electrical direct current power from at least one photovoltaic powergenerator and configured to output electrical direct current power to asecond electrical power device or alternating current power to anelectrical grid.

Clause 44. The computerized device, electrical power device, computerprogram product, or methods of any one of the preceding clauses, whereinthe at least one system status record comprises a photovoltaic systeminformation indicative of an aspect of a photovoltaic power generationsystem, including an authorized access log indicative of at least oneauthorized maintenance action on the photovoltaic power generationsystem, an un-authorized access log indicative of at least oneun-authorized maintenance action on the photovoltaic power generationsystem, a record of an updated firmware version indicative of a firmwareversion of a component of the photovoltaic power generation system, arecord of a previous or current firmware version indicative of aprevious or current firmware version of a component of the photovoltaicpower generation system, or an error log indicative of at least onefailure of at least one component of the photovoltaic power generationsystem.

Clause 45. A computerized device comprising: at least one processor; adata communication interface configured to transmit digital data to anelectrical power device; a user interface configured to receive usercommands; and a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereonprocessor instructions that, when executed on the at least oneprocessor, configure the computerized device to: establish a dataconnection to the electrical power device using the data communicationinterface, receive a user command identifying a configuration oroperation of the electrical power device or at least one of a pluralityof power generators connected the electrical power device, and send theuser command to the electrical power device using the data communicationinterface.

Clause 46. A method comprising: establishing, by a computerized device,a data connection to an electrical power device using a datacommunication interface; receiving, by the computerized device, a usercommand identifying a configuration or operation of the electrical powerdevice or at least one of a plurality of power generators connected theelectrical power device; and sending the user command to the electricalpower device using the data communication interface.

Clause 47. An electrical power device comprising: at least oneprocessor; an electrical power input configured to receive power from aplurality of power generators, a data communication interface configuredto receive data from a computerized device; and a storage medium havingstored thereon processor instructions that, when executed on the atleast one processor, configure the electrical power device to: establisha data connection to the computerized device using the datacommunication interface; receive, via the data communication interface,a user command identifying a configuration or operation of theelectrical power device or at least one of the plurality of powergenerators; and initiate actions, based on or identified by the usercommand, on the electrical power device or at least one of the pluralityof power generators.

Clause 48. A method comprising: establishing, by an electrical powerdevice, a data connection to a computerized device using a datacommunication interface; receiving, by the electrical power device viathe data communication interface, a user command identifying aconfiguration or operation of the electrical power device or at leastone of the plurality of power generators; and initiating, by theelectrical power device, actions, based on or identified by the usercommand, on the electrical power device or at least one of the pluralityof power generators.

Clause 49. A power generation system comprising: a plurality of powergenerators; and an electrical power device configured to receiveelectrical power from at least one of the plurality of power generatorsusing the at least one respective interconnection, wherein theelectrical power device comprises a data communication interface, andwherein the data communication interface is configured to receive a usercommand identifying a configuration or operation of the electrical powerdevice or at least one of the plurality of power generators, and whereinsubsequent to receiving the user command the electrical power deviceinitiates actions, based on or identified by the user command, on theelectrical power device or at least one of the plurality of powergenerators.

Clause 50. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system of any one of clauses 45 through 49, wherein theuser command identifies: an electronic activation operation; a datavalue of an electrical voltage, an electrical current, an electricalpower, an electrical component operating temperature, or astate-of-charge of an energy storage device; a data value configurationcomprising a plurality of data values, wherein the data valueconfiguration represents a set of system electrical parameters, a set ofloads connected to an electrical distribution panel, or a chargingprofile of an electrical energy storing device; a software configurationof a central power computerized device; a firmware configuration of acomponent of a photovoltaic power generation system; an electricalconfiguration of a component of a photovoltaic power generation system;or a selection of a status comprising a status of a failure of, aservice to, or a performance of, a component of a photovoltaic powergeneration system; and wherein the user command applies to theelectrical power device or at least one of the plurality of powergenerators.

Clause 51. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system of any one of clauses 45 through 50, wherein theplurality of power generators comprise a plurality of respectiveinterconnections, and wherein the user command identifies a wiringselection of one or more of a plurality of wiring configurations of theplurality of respective interconnections, and wherein the user commandapplies to the electrical power device or at least one of the pluralityof power generators.

Clause 52. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system of clause 51, wherein the wiring selection:identifies a subset of the one or more power generators that areoperationally connected to the power device, identifies a configurationof the electrical power device to receive the power, or includesinstructions to control the electrical power device or at least one ofthe plurality of power generators.

Clause 53. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system of any one of clauses 45 through 52, wherein theelectrical power device and the plurality of power generators arecomponents of a photovoltaic power generation system.

Clause 54. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system of clause 53, wherein the photovoltaic powergeneration system further comprises at least one photovoltaic powerinverter, at least one photovoltaic power optimizer, or at least onephotovoltaic power converter.

Clause 55. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system any one of clauses 45 through 54, wherein theuser command is sent in response to the configuration or operation ofthe electrical power device or at least one of the plurality of theplurality of power generators, and (or) wherein the user commandidentifies the results of a visual inspection, an auditory inspection,or an olfactory, inspection of at least one of the plurality of powergenerators.

Clause 56. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system of any one of clauses 45 through 55, wherein thecomputerized device is in close proximity to at least one of theplurality of power generators.

Clause 57. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system of any one of clauses 45 through 56, wherein thecomputerized device is in remote proximity to the electrical powerdevice.

Clause 58. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system any one of clauses 56 through 57, wherein theclose proximity is less than 4 meters linear distance.

Clause 59. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system any one of clauses 56 through 58, wherein theremote proximity is greater than 6 meters route of access distance.

Clause 60. The methods, computerized device, electrical power device, orpower generation system of any preceding clauses, wherein thecomputerized device comprises a mobile terminal.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical power device comprising: at leastone processor; an electrical power input configured to receive powerfrom a plurality of power generators; a data communication interfaceconfigured to receive data from a computerized device; and a storagemedium having stored thereon processor instructions that, when executedon the at least one processor, configure the electrical power device to:establish a data connection to the computerized device using the datacommunication interface, receive, via the data communication interface,a user command identifying a configuration or operation of theelectrical power device or at least one of the plurality of powergenerators, and initiate actions, based on or identified by the usercommand, on the electrical power device or at least one of the pluralityof power generators.
 2. The electrical power device of claim 1, whereinthe user command identifies: an electronic activation operation; a datavalue of an electrical voltage, an electrical current, an electricalpower, an electrical component operating temperature, or astate-of-charge of an energy storage device; a data value configurationcomprising a plurality of data values, wherein the data valueconfiguration represents a set of system electrical parameters, a set ofloads connected to an electrical distribution panel, or a chargingprofile of an electrical energy storing device; a software configurationa central power computerized device; a firmware configuration of acomponent of a photovoltaic power generation system; an electricalconfiguration of a component of a photovoltaic power generation system;or a selection of a status comprising a status of a failure of, aservice to, or a performance of, a component of a photovoltaic powergeneration system; and wherein the user command applies to theelectrical power device or at least one of the plurality of powergenerators.
 3. The electrical power device of claim 1, wherein theplurality of power generators comprise a plurality of respectiveinterconnections, and wherein the user command identifies a wiringselection of one or more of a plurality of wiring configurations of theplurality of respective interconnections, and wherein the user commandapplies to the electrical power device or at least one of the pluralityof power generators.
 4. The electrical power device of claim 3, whereinthe wiring selection: identifies a subset of at least one of theplurality of power generators that are operationally connected to thepower device; identifies a configuration of the electrical power deviceto receive the power; or includes instructions to control the electricalpower device or at least one of the plurality of power generators. 5.The electrical power device of claim 1, wherein the electrical powerdevice and the plurality of power generators are components of aphotovoltaic power generation system.
 6. The electrical power device ofclaim 5, wherein the photovoltaic power generation system furthercomprises at least one photovoltaic power inverter, at least onephotovoltaic power optimizer, or at least one photovoltaic powerconverter.
 7. The electrical power device of claim 1, wherein the usercommand is sent in response to the configuration or operation of theelectrical power device or at least one of the plurality of theplurality of power generators, and wherein the user command identifiesthe results of a visual inspection, an auditory inspection, or anolfactory inspection of at least one of the plurality of powergenerators.
 8. A computerized device comprising: at least one processor;a data communication interface configured to transmit digital data to anelectrical power device; a user interface configured to receive usercommands; and a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereonprocessor instructions that, when executed on the at least oneprocessor, configure the computerized device to: establish a dataconnection to the electrical power device using the data communicationinterface, receive a user command identifying a configuration oroperation of the electrical power device or at least one of a pluralityof power generators connected the electrical power device, and send theuser command to the electrical power device using the data communicationinterface.
 9. The computerized device of claim 8, wherein the usercommand identifies: an electronic activation operation; a data value ofan electrical voltage, an electrical current, an electrical power, anelectrical component operating temperature, or a state-of-charge of anenergy storage device; a data value configuration comprising a pluralityof data values, wherein the data value configuration represents a set ofsystem electrical parameters, a set of loads connected to an electricaldistribution panel, or a charging profile of an electrical energystoring device; a software configuration a central power computerizeddevice; a firmware configuration of a component of a photovoltaic powergeneration system; an electrical configuration of a component of aphotovoltaic power generation system; or a selection of a statuscomprising a status of a failure of, a service to, or a performance of,a component of a photovoltaic power generation system, and wherein theuser command applies to the electrical power device or at least one ofthe plurality of power generators.
 10. The computerized device of claim8, wherein the plurality of power generators comprise a plurality ofrespective interconnections, and wherein the user command identifies awiring selection of one or more of a plurality of wiring configurationsof the plurality of respective interconnections, and wherein the usercommand applies to the electrical power device or at least one of theplurality of power generators.
 11. The computerized device of claim 10,wherein the wiring selection: identifies a subset of at least one of theplurality of power generators that are operationally connected to thepower device; identifies a configuration of the electrical power deviceto receive the power; or includes instructions to control the electricalpower device or at least one of the plurality of power generators. 12.The computerized device of claim 8, wherein the electrical power deviceand the plurality of power generators are components of a photovoltaicpower generation system.
 13. The computerized device of claim 12,wherein the photovoltaic power generation system further comprises atleast one photovoltaic power inverter, at least one photovoltaic poweroptimizer, or at least one photovoltaic power converter.
 14. Thecomputerized device of claim 8, wherein the user command is sent inresponse to the configuration or operation of the electrical powerdevice or at least one of the plurality of the plurality of powergenerators, and wherein the user command identifies the results of avisual inspection, an auditory inspection, or an olfactory inspection ofat least one of the plurality of power generators.
 15. A powergeneration system comprising: a plurality of power generators; and anelectrical power device configured to receive electrical power from theat least one of the plurality of power generator using the at least onerespective interconnection, wherein the electrical power devicecomprises a data communication interface; wherein the data communicationinterface is configured to receive a user command identifying aconfiguration or operation of the electrical power device or at leastone of the plurality of power generators, and wherein subsequent toreceiving the user command the electrical power device initiatesactions, identified by the user command, on the electrical power deviceor at least one of the plurality of power generators.
 16. The powergeneration system of claim 15, wherein the user command identifies: anelectronic activation operation; a data value of an electrical voltage,an electrical current, an electrical power, an electrical componentoperating temperature, or a state-of-charge of an energy storage device;a data value configuration comprising a plurality of data values,wherein the data value configuration represents a set of systemelectrical parameters, a set of loads connected to an electricaldistribution panel, or a charging profile of an electrical energystoring device; a software configuration a central power computerizeddevice; a firmware configuration of a component of a photovoltaic powergeneration system; an electrical configuration of a component of aphotovoltaic power generation system; or a selection of a statuscomprising a status of a failure of, a service to, or a performance of,a component of a photovoltaic power generation system, and wherein theuser command applies to the electrical power device or at least one ofthe plurality of power generators.
 17. The power generation system ofclaim 15, wherein the plurality of power generators comprise a pluralityof respective interconnections, and wherein the user command identifiesa wiring selection of one or more of a plurality of wiringconfigurations of the plurality of respective interconnections, andwherein the user command applies to the electrical power device or atleast one of the plurality of power generators.
 18. The power generationsystem of claim 17, wherein the wiring selection: identifies a subset ofthe one or more power generators that are operationally connected to theelectrical power device, identifies a configuration of the electricalpower device to receive the power, or includes instructions to controlthe electrical power device or at least one of the plurality of powergenerators.
 19. The power generation system of claim 15, wherein theelectrical power device and the plurality of power generators arecomponents of a photovoltaic power generation system.
 20. The powergeneration system of claim 19, wherein the photovoltaic power generationsystem further comprises at least one photovoltaic power inverter, atleast one photovoltaic power optimizer, or at least one photovoltaicpower converter.